Micrometer adjustment device for valves



Feb. 17, 1953 c. J. MEHLER 2,628,588

MICROMETER ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR VALVES Filed Jan. 8, 1948 A further-1 object. is to provide the n1 Patented Feb. 17,:1953

jljhis invention .relatesto improvements in valves; being concernedmore, particularly with e. rvalve characterized by ,features which .render it of particular utilityj inly 'installationsl wherein iinerandjafcurate regulation'of fiovr'o/f a 4fluid is VRe'1.et'ofore','in anjerfort to obtain more or less inne and `accurate regulation ofriow, it has been lthepractiee to design eachk valve'of'the so-called precision l:type vwith reference tofthe'specific factors involved in the particular installation in which thevalve is; to be included; and as a result of the many'diff-erent uses calling krfor precision jvalves'` andfthe widely different` ow factors involved; the designing and manufacturing of each valve with reference to the specific characteristics of the particular installation have proved nemcient and costly.

The principal object of thepresent invention, therefore; is to overcome the above objections, this object contemplating alvalve-which-ma'y be designed and manufactured las astandard unit 'and which as so designed and manufactured, and

Vwithout any dimensionalchanges in v"the parts thereof, or changes'in 'dial calibration,4r is available for use in'installations wherein widely `diiferentiiow' factors are'involved and which in 'any such installation may be adjusted accurately and withfacility to obtain large or minute ow variations, asdesired.V L p a valve of the iprecision .type wherein provision is madeff'r .obtaining rapid changes in flow. in any adjustment'of the Yvalvein the'range' in whichn'e adjustinents are'not called for. 1 f

A still further object is a'valve which is highly accurate in operation andsimple-and inexpensivetin` design.v

The 'invention is illustrated in t -ingfdrawin`g', wherein: ftivfgure 1 is a topview of a valve embodying the e accompanyfeatures/ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2--2 of Figure 1; and Y i j AFigure 3 is a horizontal section taken along line `3'-3"ofEigure 2. fr A' y' I'he features" of the invention may be incorporated in valves of various types. The valve illus- "tratedincludes a body I formed with an inlet passage lj' migure' ziwhiciieommnicates with et chamber- I2, the Ventrance 'portion of the 1 assagebeig' threaded. The rvalve'.body` is also fo med'lwit'h"an'outletpassag I3," threaded which eqmelenicaeewirhian loutlet chamber I4. At its bottom the inlet cham- Y ApplicatienivJanoary 8,1948,Sarraute.'1,25sff's"jk claims; (o1. 11s-'425) i' "1' "ser isjjfoi'ne ",witla,eeiiileiledee 15195511.11- Vpprtinga stationary, disc I6, the latter being securled in the Npbttcmn ci the'Q inleg ycharmer 'against the ledge "byf a f threaded elementv` yI1. 'A sealing ring I8isshown between the disc VIIifaridedg'e I5` to insure a fl'uid-tglnlti` jointj between'thesfe parts. f f The upper face of l,the discfI'B provides a seat for 'a n :atatable elerxientI9v andfis formed with an arcuate ychannel 20,-the latter being ineccentric relation with respect to the axis of rotation of the element I9 and being in communication with the outlet chamber I4 through yports 2| u The ,rotatable Velement v I 3 constitutes thernovable element of the valve and its lower facebooperatesgwithwthe upper face of the disc I6, the element I 9 being V:Iormed with 'af tubular fneck 22 for receiving the lower end of va spindie`123. Thfe latter carries across-pin 2`4 at its lower fend;E the endsj ofthe cross-pin being *accommodated in diametrically-opposed, vvertical slots 25- in the neck 22 to therebyV hold the spindle and element I9V against relative angularfmoverentsj `The piny and y'slot connection described', however, permits zrernovalofgthe end of the spindle 23 from the neck 22. `It also permits ra spring 26whichis arranged around the spindle to bias theelement I9 against Ythe disc I6, the spring 2B being' under compression Vbetween the elementl 9 'anda' washer 21 Which-acts against ari-annular enlargement. 28 on thek spindle, The spring y 25 4screwing ontethe upperend f the Y.valve bedr whieh is. externally. threadedpgfer "this" VvAS Lbeet shown. in Figure 3;, .the rotatable ele.- ment I9 is formed in its upperface withfa periph veral depression 3 I and the resultanttiiner `Aprtien. of` the.. element .IS is'. femed with e `rdiel1y extending.AV-shaped'notchZ; there Y walls'o'f the notch converging in the direction ofthe ii'is of rotationof the element I9. Q

Fluid entering, the j valve through the i'nli` fI-'I Y passes into the `inn-Lt.armate'r;| z. modif-the steer it passes, ,throughf the notchj32 '(assuming he eiemeneje is `mijnsted, tepermit"thisrfiinb hie arcuate." channel 2 t' j From g` th"'e;'channel 521i he connection it wii1beoted'tntth patnof'mvgment of the notch 32 is concentric with-"respect to the axis of rotation of the element I9 while the arcuate channel in the upper face of the disc I6 is eccentric with relation to such axis. As shown, the channel 20 is so formed that when he element I9 is angularly adjusted to one limit cf its range of movement the notch 32 is located in its entirety radially outwardly with respect to the channel while at the other limit of the range of movement of the element I9 the notch 32 extends entirely across the channel. rIhe two limits referred to correspond to the fully closed and fully open positions, respectively, of the valve, it being understood that as the element I9 moves from the fully closed position to the fully open position, the extent to which the notch 32 overlies the channel 20 increases progressively, the rate of iiow in any particular position depending, among other factors, upon the dimensions of the notch and the extent to which the latter is open.

A valve having the structural features described is far superior in action to a needle valve as better flow regulation can be obtained. The valve has the further advantage that it is selfcleaning in action, any foreign matter tending to accumulate being subjected to the shearing action of the seat and rotor orifices during adjusting movements of the rotor.

Angular adjustments of the element I9 to regulate the flow of fluid through the valve is controlled by a handle 33. The latter is secured to the upper end of the spindle 23, there being a packing nut 34 carried by the cap-piece 30 to prevent the escape of fluid from the inlet chamber I2 through the opening provided in the cappiece for the spindle. A radial extension of the handle 33 provides a pointer, the latter travcrsing a scale'36 on a dial 31. The latter, as illustrated, is in the form of a disc and is arranged in a shallow depression in a disc-like support 38 formed on the cap-piece 30, the dial 31 being held in the depression by screws 39.

It will be apparent that the handle 33 may be grasped and manipulated to adjust the element I9 as desired, the dial 31 cooperating with the pointer 35 to indicate the rate of flow. Such adjustments as are made by manipulating the handle 33 are more or less rough adjustments. In accordance with the invention, therefore, means are provided whereby fine, or micrometric, adjustments of the element I9 may be made. The said means include an arm 49, the inner end of which is formed with an opening for accommodating the body portion of the packing nut 34 and being pivotally mounted thereon. At its outer end, the arm is formed with a downturned end 4I which is located in the same plane as the disc-like support 38 and which carries a threaded locking screw 42. The inner end of the locking screw is engageable with the peripheral edge of the support 38 while the outer end carries a wing nut 43.

Adjacent its outer end the arm 40 is formed with lateral extensions 44 which terminate in upturned ends 45. The latter carry a micrometric stationary screw 46 which passes through elongated slots 41 in the opposite down-turned sides of the handle 33, the top wall of the handle being slotted longitudinally as indicated at 48 to accommodate an adjusting nut 49 on the micrometric screw. The nut 49 may, as shown, have a central, knurled wheel-like portion to facilitate its adjustment while the sides are more or less spherical for engagement with the side walls of the slot 48.

In operating the valve. rough adjustments are made merely by grasping the handle 33 and turning it to the extent desired, as indicated by the pointer 35, the screw 42 being disengaged from the periphery of the support 38 at such times. After such rough adjustments have meen made, the screw 42 is tightened to engage the periphery of the support 33 and thereby lock the arm 4U against angular movement. When this has been done, any further adjustmentA of the element I9 can only be made by turning the nut 49, turning of the nut in one direction effecting fine increments of adjustments of the element I9 in a closing direction and turning of the nut in the opposite direction effecting similar increments of adjustment of the element in the opening direction. The elongated slots 41 in the down-turned sides of the handle 33, and the spherical sides of the nut 49 permit angular movement of the handle, relative to the arm 40, in response to turning movements of the nut.

The valve described has the advantage that the parts thereof, including the dial, may be standardized with respect to widely different flow factors. In other words, the same valve may be employed in installations in which the average rate of flow range is large and may be employed to equal advantage in other installations in which the average rate of flow range is small. In either case fine and accurate adjustments of flow can be made throughout the entire range selected. In order to facilitate universal use of the Valve in the manner described, an adjustable stop 5U may be, and preferably is, employed. The stop 53, as best shown in Figure 1, is carried by the outer ends of arms 5 I which are integral with and extend radially with respect to a ring 52. The latter fits somewhat loosely around the neck portion of the'cap-piece 30 and is free to turn relatively thereto. The stop 50, which is in the form of a pointer, overlies the peripheral edge of the dial 31 and carries a set-screw 53 for locking the stop in any desired position around the dial.

In the use of the valve the stop 50 may be ad- J'usted so that it occupies a position over the dial corresponding to the maximum rate of flow desired in the particular installation in which the valve is to be employed. The stop by engagement with the pointer 35 will thus insure against any accidental adjustment of the valve to positions corresponding to greater rates of flow. Both rough and micrometric adjustments of the valve may be made, in the manner described, within the range between the closed position and the fully open position corresponding to that at which the stop 50 is set.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent. that the micrometric adjustment provided renders the valve, within limits, substantially universal in use as a precision device. It will be understood, of course, that the features of the invention are not limited to the specific type of valve illustrated, that shown being intended by way of example only.

I claim as my invention;

1. Actuating means for precisely controlling the opening of a valve wherein the movable member of the valve is rotatable in the valve housing, said actuating means comprising a spindle, a lever secured intermediate its ends to said spindle for turning said spindle, one end of said lever being formed to provide a pointer, a support for the actuating means carrying a graduated dial which is traversed by said pointer, an arm mounted on said support to be adjustable angularly about the axis of rotation of said spindle, means, including a micrometer element, for adjustably connecting said lever and arm, said lever and arm being movable as a unit to effect rough adjustment of said spindle, and means for locking said arm against angular movement relative to said support so that thereafter said lever may be adjusted by said micrometer element angularly relative to said arm to effect ine adjustment of said spindle.

2. Actuating means for precisely controlling the opening of a valve wherein the movable member of the valve is rotatable in the valve housing, said actuating means comprising a spindle, a lever secured intermediate its ends to said spindle for turning said spindle, one end of said lever being formed to provide a pointer, a support for the actuating means carrying a graduated dial which is traversed by said pointer, an

arm mounted on said support to be adjustable angularly about the axis of rotation of said spindie, means, including a micrometer element, for adjustably connecting said lever and arm, said lever and arm being movable as a unit to effect rough adjustment of said spindle, and means carried by said arm and engageable with the periphery of said support for locking said arm against angular movement relative to said support so that thereafter said lever may be adjusted by said micrometer element angularly relative to said arm to effect iine adjustment of said spindle.

3. Actuating means for precisely controlling the opening of a valve wherein the movable member of the valve is rotatable, said means including a spindle, a lever secured intermediate its ends to said spindle for turning said spindle, an arm pivotally mounted at its inner end and angularly adjustable about the same axis as said spindle, one end of said lever being formed to provide a pointer and the opposite end a handle, a dial which is traversed by said pointer, a xed support for said dial, the outer end of said arm having spaced-apart projections between which said handle extends, a transversely-extending screw mounted between said projections and connecting said handle to said arm so that they may both be moved together, and means for locking said arm to said support so that said lever may be adjusted relative to said arm by said screw and in so doing adjust in fine increments the angular position of said spindle, said last mentioned means being releasable so that said lever, arm and screw may be moved as a unit to eiect rough adjustments of said spindle.

4. Actuating means for precisely controlling the opening of a valve wherein the movable member of the valve is rotatable, said means including a spindle, a lever secured intermediate its ends to said spindle for turning said spindle, an arm pivotally mounted at its inner end on said spindle, and angularly adjustable about the same axis 'as said spindle, one end of said lever being formed to provide a pointer and the opposite end a handle,

a dial which is traversed by said pointer, a fixed support for said dial, the outer end of said arm having spaced-apart projections between which said handle extends, a transversely-extending screw mounted between said projections and connecting said handle to said arm, said screw being "adjustable to vary in fine increments the angular relation between said lever and said arm and in so doing adjust in iine increments the angular position lof said spindle, and a locking element carried by said arm and engageable with said support to lock said arm against movement so that said lever may be adjusted only by said screw, said locking element being releasable so that said lever, arm and screw may be moved as a unit to effect rough adjustments of said spindle.

5. Actuating means for precisely controlling the opening of a valve wherein the movable member of the valve is rotatable, said means including a spindle, a lever secured intermediate its ends to said spindle for turning said spindle, #an arm pivotally mounted at its inner end on said spindle and angularly adjustable about the same axis as said spindle, one end of said lever being formed to provide a pointer and the opposite end a handle, said handle having a top wall formed with an opening and sides formed with opposed openings, a dial which is traversed by said pointer, a fixed sup-port for said dial, the outer end of said arm having spaced-apart projections between which said handle extends, a transversely-extending screw mounted between said projections and extending through the opposed openings in said handle, a nut carried by said screw for connecting the latter to said handle, said nut extending through said rst mentioned opening so that it may be turned to vary in ne increments the angular relation between said lever and said arm and in so doing adjust in fine increments the angular position of said spindle, and a locking element carried by said arm and engageable with said support to lock said arm against movement so that said lever may be adjusted only by said nut, said locking element being releasable so that said lever, arm, screw and nut may be moved as a unit to effect rough adjustments of said spindle.

CARL J. MEHLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 91,079 Brevoort June 8, 1369 184,922 Spofford Nov. 28, 1876 313,494 Hale Mar 10, 1885 1,479,108 Renken Jan. 1, 1924 2,313,768 Putt Mar. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,570 Great Britain of 1914 

